DALLAS (Nov. 18, 2014) – Baby, it’s cold outside, and as the holidays gear up at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science it’s a winter wonderland with extreme sports, an expanded robot arena, awe-inspiring 3D films, a “New Year” sleepover, out-of-the-ordinary gift ideas and extended hours for more time to explore.

The Perot Museum’s 2nd birthday, which officially falls on Dec. 1, is part of this season of wonder and fun that includes the kid-friendly, must-see traveling exhibition 2theXtreme: MathAlive!; 3D films including the Nov. 21 world premiere of Robots 3D, Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland featuring Jeff Corwinand Pandas: The Journey Home 3D; special showings of a popular soon-to-be Disney classic; “winter discovery” science demonstrations; and weekends packed with special programming and activities for all ages. In celebration of its birthday and to thank visitors for two wonderful years, the Museum is offering a free hot cocoa with each purchase of a dessert in the Museum Café (offer valid Dec. 1 – Jan. 4) and a special birthday discount of 25% off a new or renewed membership purchase (valid Dec. 1 only).

And to ensure patrons have plenty of time to catch it all, the Museum will be open with extended hours at select times beginning Thanksgiving weekend through Jan. 3, 2015 (details below). Visitors, including members, are strongly encouraged to purchase/reserve tickets in advance at perotmuseum.org to avoid waiting in line. Details for the bigger-than-ever holiday adventures include:

2theXtreme: MathAlive! (through Jan. 4, 2015) – Snowboard through a mountain pass, design your own video game, attempt an Ollie on a virtual skateboard, master engineer a modern city and capture a snapshot of yourself in 360-degrees. Then challenge a friend in a mountain bike race, jump into a ‘binary dance party,’ or program and control Curiosity, NASA’s next Mars rover. Those are just a few of the approximately 40 unique and interactive experiences offered up as this traveling exhibition brings to life the real math behind what kids love most – video games, sports, fashion, music, robotics and more. Innovative technologies and hands-on activities create interactive and immersive experiences that spark a passion for math and provide a formula for fun. Because STEM education – science, technology, engineering and math – is an international focus, the exhibition is bilingual, presented in English and Spanish. The exhibition is presented nationally by Raytheon. The local presenting sponsors of 2theXtreme: MathAlive! are The Episcopal School of Dallas and St. Philip’s School & Community Center. The local supporting sponsor is Texas Instruments, and the media sponsor is Time Warner Cable: Connect a Million Minds. 2theXtreme: MathAlive! is free for museum members and requires a surcharge along with purchase of general exhibits admission for non-members. And from Dec. 1 – Jan. 4, take advantage of 20% off in the MathAlive! gift shop (cannot be combined with other offers). Ticket prices below.

ROBOTICS.By popular demand, the robot arena in the Texas Instruments Engineering and Innovation Hall will get a fresh, expanded look come Dec. 6. The robotic stations will increase from 4 to 16, allowing more visitors, young and old, to “play and learn” a wider variety of activities including challenges and competitions, which will be refreshed on a regular basis. The Museum also is introducing new robot types, including those with wheels, tank tracks and grippers.

Four stations will be dedicated to the hugely popular robot programming, and four preschooler stations will have lower, 24-inch tables to engage the youngest Einsteins in age-appropriate activities. An additional eight stations will give visitors an opportunity to compete in challenge-based activities such as "Freeze Tag" and "Clean Sweep."

WORLD PREMIERE! Robots 3D, presented by National Geographic (opens Nov. 21). Come watch as eerily human-like robots fill the big screen as the Perot Museum debuts the world premiere of Robots 3D. And what does it take to make a “humanoid” robot? That’s the challenge for scientists creating robots that can do almost anything people can do, but without the benefits of a human brain! Fascinating and fun, the 40-minute National Geographic film shows the latest developments – the success and the failures – from robotic labs around the world and proves it’s not easy being (or creating) a humanoid!

Special holiday showings of a recent winter-themed Disney favorite destined to become a modern classic (after 5 p.m. Dec 26-29 and Jan. 1-3). When a princess with frosty powers inadvertently sets eternal winter upon her kingdom, her sister teams up with a mountaineer, his playful reindeer and an energetic snowman to save the kingdom and the princess herself. Fascinating, beautiful and fun this Walt Disney Animations Studio film will have the entire family humming tunes performed by the lovable cast of characters for days to come! (NOTE: we aren’t allowed to print the title, but find it on perotmuseum.org).

Pandas: The Journey Home 3D, presented by National Geographic (closing Jan. 8, 2015).National Geographic presents a groundbreaking natural-history film capturing for the first time in 3D highly endangered giant pandas living in Wolong National Nature Reserve in the People’s Republic of China. The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to the Wolong Panda Conservation Centre, to bring to light the extraordinary efforts of the Chinese to secure the pandas’ future in the wild. Meet all of the pandas at the Centre as they get ready for their new lives in various parts of the world, learn about their fascinating habits and watch as they get the best of their keepers!

Galapagos 3D: Nature’s Wonderland vividly documents an expedition to the Galapagos Islands and surrounding waters. Part adventure, part scientific expedition and part fantastic voyage, this unprecedented non-fiction film, narrated by Jeff Corwin, takes audiences on a journey to the famed Galapagos Islands. An amazing immersive cinematic experience, the 20-minute film delves deep into the largely unknown waters surrounding the volcanic archipelago to explore the natural wonders of a realm that is truly a living natural science laboratory.

SAMSUNG GALAXY TABLETS. Whether this is a first or fifth visit to the Museum, get a fresh new perspective by checking out the Samsung Galaxy Tab® 8 tablets that provide interactive experiences on every level of the Museum, including a new “Add It Up” activity that emphasizes all the ways math is woven through the building and its exhibits. With bilingual content (in English and Spanish), the tablets highlight the unique aspects of the Museum’s engineering and architecture, offer more interactive options for younger visitors and provide activities that make even the walk to the escalator feel like a game! The tablets are free of charge (one per family) on a first-come, first-served basis. A driver’s license is required for check out.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS.

Live Winter Wonderland Demonstrations (daily Dec. 20 – Jan. 5)Beginning Dec. 20, as part of the Perot Museum’s 2nd birthday celebration, Museum educators will roll-out special seasonal demonstrations that will run throughout the holiday season. From live shows with cold habitat animals from the Dallas Zoo, to experiments with super-cold liquid nitrogen, the Perot Museum takes birthday festivities to a winter wonderland extreme:

All activities free with admission. See perotmuseum.org for specific details

First Thursday Late Night: On the first Thursday of each month, the Perot Museum stays open until 9 p.m. so come early and stay late! (NOTE: On New Year’s Day 2015, the Museum will close at 7 p.m.).

Space (Dec. 4 from 6:30-9 p.m.) Come discover new inventions and research with guest scientists, including former NASA astronaut and asteroid expert Dr. Ed Lu, and even create your own invention. Free with admission.

Story TimeUnder the Stars (Dec. 8 at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 and 2 p.m. in the Forum, Lower Level) – Although the city lights can wash the brilliance of the night sky, children ages 4-6 and their adult companions can experience children’s literature and a brief tutorial on the moon, stars and constellations, all under a shining starry sky in the Perot Museum’s popular Portable Universe planetarium, sponsored by Lockheed Martin. Free with admission, but space is limited to 12 children and 12 adults per program.

Discovery Days: Patterns in Nature (Dec. 13 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) – All ages can uncover the natural resources of the earth, create biomes, experiment with elements and discover weather patterns around the world. Free with admission.

Countries, Cultures and Kids: The Polar Express! Celebrating Literacy (Dec. 13 from 11-11:30 a.m. in the Lower Level Auditorium) – The holiday season is not complete without a classic retelling of the Caldecott Award winning book, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Kids can wear their pajamas to this winter celebration complete with a storyteller, a bell craft to make and take, a balloon twister and even a glitter tattoo by a Fun Time Entertainment artist. Enjoy a holiday cookie and cocoa as imaginations get ready for a magical journey to the North Pole! Free with admission.

New Year Sleepover (Jan. 3 from 7:30 p.m.-8:30 a.m.) – Go behind the scenes at the Perot Museum with after-hours access to intriguing exhibits, exclusive demonstrations and hands-on discovery. And ring in 2015 with a special New Year’s film, plus count down the hours with New Year’s-themed crafts and science experiments. Every child gets a small winter plush bear toy to take home. A late-night snack and light breakfast round out the experience. Designed especially for children ages 6-12, sleepovers are $50 per child and $35 per adult chaperone. Registration closes Dec. 30.

“Radical and Mathematical” Birthday Parties – Celebrate another year of discovery with a radical and mathematical birthday experience at the Perot Museum, which includes admission to the popular exhibition 2theXtreme: MathAlive! There are a variety of other fun themes featuring a broad range of hands-on explorations to get everyone involved. Birthday events are available Saturdays and Sundays year-round, but spaces fill quickly. Learn more here (http://www.perotmuseum.org/events-and-programs/children/birthdays/at-the-museum/index.html)

GIVE THE GIFTS OF DISCOVERY

Out-of-the-ordinary, mind-expanding gift ideas in store. Check out the Perot Museum Shop for the coolest, hippest educational toys in town! There’s even a mammoth plush toy celebrating the recent discovery of the Mammuthus columbi skeleton in Ellis County that is now part of the Perot Museum’s collections. And the Museum Shop is always conveniently open online at store.perotmuseum.org.

Memberships as gifts! Looking for the perfect gift that fits all sizes and never goes out of style? A gift membership to the Perot Museum is the perfect present for everyone on your list. Sports buff? Dinosaur enthusiast? Future biologist or engineer? From individual memberships to entire households, the Perot Museum offers a range of options to ensure the best fit for your friend, family member or colleague. Benefits for members range from free admission to general exhibit halls for the membership year, extended hours and discounted admission to ticketed exhibitions, lectures, programs and special events, to discounts on parking and purchases in the Museum Shop and Café. Household-level members receive additional benefits dependent on level, such as exhibit and theater guest passes and KIDS CLUB! memberships. Plus, current Perot Museum members receive 15% off the purchase of gift memberships.

Individual- and Household-level memberships (personal and gift) are $55 for students, $75 for individuals, $90 for dual memberships, $110 for Family, $170 for Family Plus, and $260 for Family Plus Platinum (plus additional discounts for 2-year memberships). Patron level memberships are also available for those who desire to provide additional financial support to the Museum in addition to receiving member benefits. Patron-level memberships start at $350 and include additional benefits such as VIP event invitations and donor recognition on the web and Annual Fund donor wall. For details, call 214-756-5751 or go to perotmuseum.org.

EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS. During this busy holiday season, the Perot Museum will offer extended hours as follows. NOTE: Special hours for Perot Museum members are from 8:30-10 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m.-noon Sundays.The Museum is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.

TICKET PRICES. Museum general admission ticket prices are $15 for adults (18-64), $12 for youth (12-17) and seniors (65+), $10 for children (2-11), and free for children under 2. General exhibit hall admission is always free for members. Admission to the theater is $5 for a short film (20 minutes) and $8 for a long film (40 minutes) for adults, students, seniors and children. For members, admission to the theater is $5 (short film) and $6 (long film). All children under 2 are free.

2theXtreme:MathAlive! is free for members. Non-members pay a surcharge along with purchase of general exhibits admission for a total admission cost of $21 for adults (18-64), $17 for youth (12-17) and seniors (65+), and $15 for children (2-11). All children under 2 are free.

PAID PARKING. General parking and handicap parking is available in the main Museum parking lot, a pay-to-exit lot located under Woodall Rodgers Freeway across from the Museum. Limited additional handicap and hybrid/electric vehicle parking is available in the Special Permit lot, located directly west of the Museum. Pricing is $8 per car when paid on-site (at box office, ticket kiosks or upon exiting the lot) and $3 for Museum members (at box office or lobby kiosk only).

The Perot Museum is located at 2201 N. Field Street in Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit perotmuseum.orgor call 214-428-5555.

About the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a nonprofit educational organization located in Dallas, Texas, with campuses in Victory Park and Fair Park. In support of its mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the Perot Museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The $185 million Victory Park museum, designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects, opened to the public December 1, 2012. The Perot Museum is named in honor of Margot and Ross Perot, the result of a $50 million gift made by their five adult children. To learn more about the Perot Museum, please visit perotmuseum.org.